Stone Tap opens in Hudson, with focus on Wisconsin beer and food

Stone Tap gastropub is open in Hudson, Wis., and will have an official grand opening Aug. 11. (Courtesy of Stone Tap)

A new gastropub has opened in Hudson, Wis., and its draft beer list includes some notable craft beers not available in Minnesota.

The not-in-Minnesota beers at Stone Tap range from the predictable (New Glarus' Spotted Cow) to the uber-popular (two varieties of Madison-based Ale Asylum) to the obscure (wind-power-brewed Dave's Brew Farm Gold Single-Hop Lager). Those are all from Wisconsin-based breweries, but the pub also has a few hard-to-find brews from around the country.

"A few of the partners have a long history in the beer geek community," said Anthony Dabruzzi, one of three partners who built the pub.

There are 24 beers on tap now, and more will be added soon, along with a few dozen more bottled selections.

The pub is in a historic hotel in downtown Hudson that most recently housed Dibbo's nightclub. The new owners did a full renovation, uncovering the restaurant's original cream-colored city brick walls.

"We got really lucky when we exposed it all," Dabruzzi said.

The menu at Stone Tap, though small right now, includes some interesting small-plate and entree offerings, including a chicken thigh banh mi and bangers and mash.

Dabruzzi said the menu, which focuses on local ingredients whenever possible, will slowly expand as the restaurant gets up to full speed.

The restaurant's official grand opening is Aug. 11, at which time Dabruzzi said an expanded menu will be available.